Aero-gradometer.



WITNESSES a. e. GODDARD.

AERQGRADOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-22. 1917.

Patentd Apr. 15, 19191..

ATTOH N EY e: 00E G. GDDDARD, OF OUTLOOK, MONTANA.

AERO-GOME'IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 115, 12112).

Application filed November 22, 1917. Serial No. 203,428.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Roscoe G. GODDARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Outlook, in the county of Sheridan and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aero-Gradometers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an aero gradometer and has for its object the production of a simple and efi'icient indicator, whereby the driver or pilot of an aeroplane may readily determine the angle at which the aeroplane is tilting.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and elficient supporting frame for the indicator whereby the globe will be yieldably supported, in order that the globe may withstand the shock caused by the landing of the aeroplane.

With these and other objects in View, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings V Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gradometer,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the grad ometer,

Fig. 4 is a Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through one of the bearing roller supports carried by the indicator frame,

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

By referrin to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the frame which} comprises a pair of side rails 2, the rails 2 being connected at their upper ends by means of a transversely extending bracing bar 3. Each side rail 2 is provided with a forwardly projecting foot 4 and these feet 4 are braced at their outer ends by means of inclined bracing members 5, which bracing members are secured at their upper ends to the vertical side rails 2. In this manner the frame 1 will be thoroughly braced for permitting the same to be easily carried upon a support.

An indicating globe 6 is supported upon the frame 1, as will be hereinafter described, and this globe 6 comprises a pair of semi spherical sections, each section being prosection taken on line 4.-4 of vided with a laterally extending flange 7 formed around the inner edge thereof. The flange 7 of one section of. the globe is provided with an upwardly extending annular rib 8 along its periphery for fitting in an annular groove 9 formed upon the under face of the flange 7 .carriedby the other section of the globe. A cushioning ringlO is carried upon each flange 7 and constitutes a protector for the flanges 7 when seated in the supporting channel 11. The globe 6 is provided with a plurality of gage lines or graduations 12 formed upon the outer face thereof and these graduated lines 12 are marked to indicate certain degrees or angles. The globe 6 is preferably formed of glass, or other suitable transparent material, in order to allow the indicator 13 which works therein to be easily seen through the globe.

The channel 11 which supports the globe 6 comprises a plurality of sections which are su stantially lL-shaped in. cross-section. These sections of the channel 11 are held together by suitable bolts or pins 14:. A globe supporting arm 15 is carried by each side standard 2 and each arm 15 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and is integrally connected with the lower section of the channel 11 by means of an integral web 16. The outer end of each arm 15' is pivotally connected through a bracing arm 17 as shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

\ Each arm 15 as well as each arm 17 is provided with a yoke portion 18 at its inner end, the yoke portion of each arm 15 and 17 straddling the vertical side bars or rails 2 of the frame 1. The side bars 2 of the frame 1 are provided with vertically alined apertures or slots 19, within which slots 19 work the securing pins 20 carried by the arms 15 and 17. A spring supporting bracket 21 is carried by each side bar 2 of the frame 1, intermediate the ends thereof, a neutralizing spring 22 is connected to each bracket 21, the ends of the neutralizing spring 22 being connected to the arms 15 and 17. This neutralizing spring 22 is adapted to normally hold the arms 15 and 17 intermediate the ends of the slots 19.

The indicator 13 comprises a plurality of circular bands 23 which constitute a frame for the indicator. These bands 23 are braced near their inner ends for holdin the lower ends of the bands 23 from sprea ing. A ring 24 is firmly secured to the bands 23 by soldering or otherwise. The lower ends of the bands 23 carry weighted portions 25 and the upperends of these bands 23 carry a cup portion 26. This cup-portion 26 receives a ball portion 27 which ball portion carries a pendulum rod 28. This rod 28 supports a" weight 29. An indicator hand 30 is carried by the upper end of the ball portion 27 and the rod 28 is adapted to swing freely within the cup-portion 26 for allowing the pendulum rod 28 to freely swing as the globe 6 is tilted.

The indicator 13 carries a plurality of caster ball sockets 31. which are provided with threaded shanks 32 passing through the bands 23. Caster balls 33 are carriedby the sockets 31 and may be made of wood or any suitable or convenient material. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the indicator 13 may freely travel or rotate within the globe 6 as the frame 1 is tilted laterally for causing the indicator hand '30, to pomt vertically at all times. Should the support 1 tilt forwardly or backwardly, the indicator will also freely rotate within the globe 6 to cause the indicator hand 30 to pointdirectly upwardly, in order to permit the operator of an aeroplane to conveniently and accurately determine the angle at which his aeroplane is tilted. This movement of the indicator within the globe 6 will be caused by the force of gravity acting upon the weights 25 and 29. Y

The caster sockets 31 are shrunk around the caster balls 33, or crimped around the edges thereof for holding the balls 33 therein and at the same time. ermitting the balls to freely rotate withinjt e sockets 31.

It should be of course understood that certain obvious detail mechanical changes may be made in the present device without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An aero gradometer comprisinga globe, an indicator for said globe, and means to yieldably suspend said lobe for movement without interference wit surrounding structure so as to withstand shocks incidental to landing.

2. An aero gradometer comprising a support, a globe, an indicator carried thereby, said support provided with vertically extending slots, supporting arms engaging said globe, means carried by said supporting arms and Working in said slots, and yieldable means for normally holding said arms intermediate the ends of said slots.

3. An'aero adometer having a globe, an indicator ame universally movable within and on the inner surface 'of the globe, and indicator means carried by said frame for cofiperation with the globe.

4. An aero gradometer having an indieating device and a supporting means there: for, said means having a movable arm connected to the device, a second movable arm, said second arm being connected to and disposed at an angle to said first-named arm, each of said arms having a free end, means mounting said free ends of the arms for relative movement, and cushioning means to urge and maintain said arms apart at the free ends.

5. An aero gradometer having an indicating device and a supporting means therefor, said supporting 'means having a movable supporting arm for the device, a movable brace arm extending at an angle to and connected to said supporting arm, each of said arms having a free end, and means to cushion the movement of said arms at said free ends.

6. An aero gradometer having supporting means, an indicating'device comprising a globe, said globe being made in sections, the sections having laterally extending flanges at their junction, channel members into which the flanges extend, a web connecting the supporting means to one of said channel members, and means to secure the chan-' nel members together.

7. An aero gradometer comprising a frame,

a hollow globe supported thereby, an indicator frame within said globe, caster means carried by said indicator.frame, said indicator frame comprising a plurality of crossbands, a bracing ring carried near the lower ends of said bands, an-"i'ndicator hand supported upon said indicator frame, and a weighted pendulum rod secured to said hand and working through said indicator frame.

8. An aero gradometer comprising a frame,

a hollow globe supported thereby, an indicator frame Within said globe, caster means carried by said indicator frame, said indicator frame comprising a plurality of crossbands, a bracing ring carried near the lower ends of said bands, an indicator hand supported upon said indicator frame, said indicator frame provided with a cup-portion near the upper end thereof, said pendulum rod provided with a. ball portion Working within said cup portion, and an indicator hand carried by said ball portion.

9. An aero adometer comprising a frame,

a globe carried thereby, indicating means cooperating with the globe, said globe formed of a plurality of semi-spherical sections, each section being provided with a laterally extending flange along the edge thereof, cushioning rings carried by 831d. flanges, a supporting channel fitting around said flanges and engaging said cushioning rings, said supporting channel comprising a plurality of sections, the flange of one section of said lobe provided with an annular channel ormed upon the inner face thereof, and an annular rib carried by the g i,eco,eoa

. fitting-within the annular channel formed in the flange of the other section of the 10. An aero gradometer having a globe, an open frame movable on the interior. thereof, an" indicator movable independently of and-supported by the frame at substantially its highest point and extending in- 0 t'eriorly thereofand means associated {with the indicator to cause the indicator to seek the vertical. 1

lL A n aero gradometerj having a globe,

a frame movable on the interior thereof-,.' said frame having a'socket at substantially its highest point, an indicator movable mdemember loosely disposed in said soc .-pendently of the frame and havingxa baldl et an means associatedwith said indicator to cause said indicator to seek the vertical.

' In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

' ROSCOE G. GODDARD. Witnesses:

FRANK Kons'mn, Cncnw KOESTER. 

